Osama bin Laden released another tape this week, bringing the number of messages released since the 9/11 attacks by bin Laden or his top deputy, al-Zawahiri, up to 30 (the largest number of which have appeared in 2004).This bin Laden tape shows two significant changes over previous messages.

Terrorists succeeded in major attacks against U.S. and Iraqi targets in Iraq, resulting in heavy casualties.These attacks are an attempt to disrupt the January elections.Successful elections in Iraq would be a major blow to the terrorists and to anti-democratic forces in the region, just as they were in Afghanistan.If these attacks continue and succeed in disrupting the democratic process, the terrorists will have won a major victory.

News stories around the world highlighted terrorist plots that have been thwarted by security forces–including a Madrid-style train bombing in the UK.It also appears that the U.S. is beginning to act against terrorists that incite violence.

This week, Afghanistan swore in its first popularly elected president, Hamid Karzai.Threats from members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda that they would launch attacks to prevent the ceremony from taking place proved to be as toothless as similar threats voiced prior to the Afghan elections earlier this fall.The dwindling influence of terrorists in the Afghani political sphere is encouraging and could provide a model for upcoming elections in the Palestinian Authority and Iraq, both of which are scheduled to take place in January.

Two disturbing reports this week indicate that terrorists are pushing forward on chemical, biological, and even nuclear weapons.First, the CIA reported Tuesday (11/23) that the danger of al-Qaeda producing and deploying a radioactive dirty bomb “remained high.”Meanwhile, troops in Fallujah uncovered a bomb factory with literature and materials indicating that terrorists there were working to produce chemical and biological weapons for future attacks.

The French Audiovisual Council (CSA) on 11/19 authorized Hezbollah's television station, al-Manar, to transmit its signal within the European Union after committing itself "not to incite hatred, violence or discrimination based on race, sex, religion or nationality.”Last August, the CSA applied to ban al-Manar in France because it broadcast programming that had vicious anti-Semitic themes.French authorities believe that there might be a connection between al-Manar's propaganda and violence against French Jews.

This week, Americans were reminded that al-Qaeda is not just a foreign terror network – U.S. citizens are actively involved at home and abroad.In Wyoming, a college student was charged with providing material support to the Somali al-Ittihad al-Islamiya group, an organization allied with al-Qaeda.U.S. intelligence officials also confirmed this week that an al-Qaeda videotape obtained last month in Pakistan was made by Adam Gadahn, a 26-year-old Californian who converted to Islam and left the United States.

The United States government awaits court decisions that will determine whether detainees held in Guantanamo Bay are enemy combatants or prisoners of war.While these legal battles rage, the Bush administration's strategy of prosecuting hundreds of alleged al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees accused of terrorist crimes remains on hold.

The 2004 election was monitored very closely by Jihadis around the world, including Bin Laden. Regardless of who won the White House, Bin Laden made clear that al-Qaeda was intent on pursuing a policy of “bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy". Also Al-Qaeda and its affiliates have made clear that America is not their only target.This past week it was reported that al-Qaeda is planning attacks against British military instillations.

This week, a spike in terrorist attacks is associated with Ramadan holiday.In Iraq, the U.S. military reported a 30% rise in attacks during this period, and noted that violence in Iraq had been on a decline before the start of the holiday.Pakistan, Indonesia, and Algeria also suffered attacks carried out in honor of the holiday.

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